Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-26
SUMMER VISITORS.

~ ~~~ A4AO AAy
had just come into possession of a small house
out Of town, a cottage two stories in height
and about twelve feet square, with a small
cabbage garden in the rear and a grape vine
and a cherry tree in the front yard. We had
never owned any property before, and we
couldn't help feeling a little proud of this,
though, like Morleena Kenwigs, we had been
taught that it was sinful"
"Come down and pay us a visit" we had
said to every one with whom we shook hands,
as we babe farewell to. the city; 'come and
see our little place in strawberry time. And
every one had answered.:
1--WE shall be delighted"
Our parlor, with its Indian mating and
white curtains and spider-legged chairs, was
a model of airy comfort There were always
flowers in glasses on the mantel, and there
was a bird in cage in the window. Peggy,
the "girl," did the work, and my wife was
always fresh and bright in her white muslins
and knots of ribbons and flowers. She was
growing plump, too, and Mrs. Turtledove
looked well when she was plump. I was
thinking of these things with satisfaction as I
opened the gate of my garden one night and
almost stumbled over Mrs. Turtledove, who,
with a glass dish in her hand, was bending
over the strawberry bed.
"Oh, Timon!" she exclaimed, as I saluted
her, d help me, please. I'm trying to get
enough ripe berries for tea. After Dragging
so I don't wan Miss Mittens togo back to the
city and say she didn't have any. Miss Nit
tens came down by the noon train, dear"
"Did shes" said !. "Ah, well, pleased to SEQ
her, I'm sure"
ayes, of course, Timon," said my wife, very
slowly. sand I hope there's milk enough.
She says she's going to live on milk, now she
is in the country"
Now, we did not keep q cow, and we had
almost been obliged to go N our knees to
Farmer Fish to induce him to spare us his
quart a day. "He always liked to send full
cans down by the train, J" he said, and he and
Mrs. Fish never touched milk themselves.
We had even suspected the good Fish Of
watering this quart of ours; perhaps, being a
benevolent man, he thought that it might be
too rich for us. It is always right to think
the very best Of people, you know.
u wish we had a cow" said I; perhaps
Peggy could milk her il"
"Hallo, old fellow!" cried a voice behind
me. "Been chasing you ever since you left
the train. Anyone would know you had a
pretty wife at home, by the way you walked.
I've taken advantage of your charming invi-
~tation, and run down to stop awhile. How
do you do, Mrs. Turtledove2 l can sec that
farm life agrees with you, by your cheeks"
And we both shook hands with Mulligan.
Fred Mulligan, whom remembered with a
sort of qualm, put up at the Fifth Avenue
hotel as a general thing. and was one Of the
most particular men about "his eating"
However, at least I could make him well
or~,,o c> .,,l1-oL liz. TODD l. l-..co n-s--
overcoat, slender umbrella, Russian leather
travelling bag and all, and, leaving him in the
parlor, went out into the kitchen to open the
sardine b~ox-Peggy had a way of making
chowder of the sardines in the process-and to
assure Mrs. Turtledove that the small quanti-
ties Of berries she had collected would be
@plenty."
We were rather a merry party as we sat
down to tea that night. Mr.. Mulligan and
Miss Mittens had discovered that they had
met before at Saratoga, and were already |
very intimate.
They complimented us in chorus. |
"How delightful to be country people, isn't
it?' said Mr.. Mulligan.
"Indeed it is" said Miss Mittens. Mature
casting their most precious things at their
feet, as one may say-fowers and fruit and
ullU UAcCLSSs yOu h1OWs i LARRY pkU0u xCF |
the country, and I hate hotels and strange
boarding houses; SO, since I actually have a
sister in dear Mrs. Turtledove. I thought I'd
throw myself on her charity for the summer"
"Just as I felt" said Mulligan. "Said I: !
There is Turtledove ready to welcome me
with open arms. Why not go to himr"
"Im glad to be rural while I am here"
said Miss Mittens. II don't mean to drink
ton ~, ooN,1 ,ooon- IN 1-4 ~ -os11v --l |
fruit here"
"And I" said Mulligan; mo champagne
for me when I can have milk"
I felt very glad indeed to hear that he did
not want champagne.
"But, oh, my dear, !" sobbed Mrs. Turtledove
little while after the meal was over, catch.
ing me in a quiet corner, ito think of our first
and you not to nave even one
choked me when I thought Of that. And
don't you think Mr.. Fish would sell us moro
milk while they stayp
I declared that I did not mind about the
that I would make Fish sell US milk
at any price. By the way, he did give in at
last, and we gave him two shillings a quart.
was 10 competition in the ~neighbor-
hood.
fAul LII UTluH DcIIlcS OO"l lIOu GOWo |
I said. "They are plentier there
than they are in the country"
miss Mittens has the spare room, and MI.
Mulligan will have a hall bedroom" said my
wife. ale looks altogether too grand for it,
but I can't help it"
Then we went back to entertain our guests,
and we were really getting OIL f~inely-what
with the piano and duets-when there came
h. rD,,,,l of hI1n,-sn~ NIL co~o-s~~ NJ <h~
steps. A voice cried:
"Hallo, Turtledove! Folks for you"
And out we rushed to find the garden full
Of the Rev. Mr.. Calliope and his falnily-Mrs.
.alliope, Miss Calliope and Master Calliope.
Mr.. Calliope was our pastor, and We had
given him a remarkable hearty invitation.
"As my congregation insisted on giving
a vacation" said Mr.. Calliope, 1--WE are
I saw they were, and I was wondering
where they were to sleep that night, when
Mrs. Calliope, who had been kissing my
wife, remarked:
"But then her friend who came up with US
the very entertaining gentleman Who
Here he isl" shouted MI. Fisher from his
"And if he thinks I'm going to ride J
lim and his porkmanker from that there depot !
behind this here boss, that has been blowing
al day for less than so cents he thinks I'm
sreener than I be-" |,
II make no cbjection-no objection" said :
thin voice, "only I am unable just at this
to- think I must have it in my ]
~pocket-1-Can you lend me half a
lollar, Mr.. Turtledove" ]
I could-I did-and I took the long, fshy !
of land that was offered to me the next
oop,ont o,,d 1-alcon,od Mr. Ramos the ann.
eur spiritual medium, to my hearth and
lone, |:
II was impressed to come i" he whispered to
ne. Something seemed to roll away, and I
aw you among green fields and pleasant pas
ures and was drawn toward you by a subtle
influence. I did not even wait for baggage. {
You understands l.
I had heard that day from a fellow-boardef e
# Mr.. Bangs that his landlady had delicately i
mentioned to him that until he could pay his I
Hill che cho,,11 Uprofor hjS rom tn his l